Iowa considers banning junk food in schools

Posted:
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 12:27 PM EST

DES MOINES (AP) -- State education officials want to ban junk food from the state's schools, and give students a nudge when it comes to nutrition.

The Iowa Board of Education is considering new rules that target vending machine and snack bars that have become popular options to traditional school lunches. They also have become money makers, accounting for about half of food sales in schools.

Students oppose the changes and critics say the plan will drive up school lunch prices.

Some school officials, such as Ann Feilman, food service director for the Marshalltown school district, say if a school is an open campus students will find someplace else to eat.

Feilman says food service workers would rather teach children how to eat healthier.